A/HRC/42/14 76. The delegation of Ethiopia stated that the requests to visit the country made by the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression and opinion, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education and the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members had been recently accepted. A memorandum of understanding has been signed with the International Committee of the Red Cross, allowing it to have access to all prison facilities. 77. The Government’s primary focus would be to ensure that the 2020 national elections were free, fair and credible. A new proclamation on the establishment of the National Electoral Board had been adopted, a new chairperson appointed, and the capacity of the Board enhanced. Furthermore, the electoral legislation was being amended. The Proclamation on Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information No. 590/2008 was also in the process of being amended. In March 2019, 107 political parties, including the ruling party, signed a code of conduct that would guide their activities. 78. Ethiopia hosted about a million refugees from some 26 countries. The comprehensive refugee response framework had been rolled out. In addition, a new progressive proclamation on refugees had been adopted and 10-year national comprehensive refugee response strategy was being finalized. Efforts were being made to include refugees in the national and local development systems and plans. A special programme focused on the protection needs of refugee women, girls and children. 79. Certain factors, such as drought and conflict among different ethnic groups, had resulted in a large number of internally displaced people. The reconciliation and peace conferences held in different localities, as well as the reintegration and rehabilitation initiatives, had resulted in about 800,000 displaced people voluntarily returning to their neighbourhoods. Humanitarian assistance was being provided in areas of displacement and of return. Other initiatives included the establishment of a national reconciliation commission and an administrative boundaries and identity issues commission. 80. Ethiopia had enacted Proclamation No. 909 of 2015 to domesticate the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. A national committee and task forces at the regional and federal levels respectively had been established to follow up on the implementation of relevant legislation. Concerted efforts were being made to ensure the safe return of irregular migrants detained abroad. 81. Austria noted the release of political prisoners, but was concerned about ethnic tensions. 82. Azerbaijan noted the progress made in the implementation of recommendations made at the previous review. 83. up. Bahrain noted the establishment of the national mechanism for reporting and follow- 84. Barbados noted the implementation of measures taken to strengthen social cohesion. 85. Belarus noted the effort made to combat corruption and to reduce poverty. 86. Belgium noted the planned reforms to improve the human rights situation. 87. Benin noted the measures taken to improve intercultural and interreligious dialogue. 88. Bhutan noted the progress made in implementing recommendations made at the previous review. 89. The Plurinational State of Bolivia noted the reforms relating to the protection of human rights. 90. 6 Botswana commended Ethiopia for its political reforms.